Coin slide



Jan. 2, 1934. w. A. TRATscH 1,941,638

COIN SLIDE Filed Dec. 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l r"'i E. /a J Elrl I l 49/f f5 l I l l L J A A A NEWNEN 53 20 2z Z4 Z3 3mm Jan.V 2, 1934. I w. A.T'RATscH 1,941,638

COIN SLIDE Filed Deo. 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan.. 2,V 1934 tUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -COIN SLIDE Walter A. Tratsch, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 5, 193,2. Serial No. 645,789

19 Claims. (Cl. 194-97) This invention relates to coin slides and hasCoin slide, in that the embossed pocket of the for its object to providea construction simple in prior application has been replaced by ayieldparts and more eflicient in operation than those able member whichprevents clogging of coins in heretofore proposed. the discharge openingof the coin slide guide.

With these and other objects in View the in- Also other changes havebeen incorporated in the 60 vention resides in the novel details ofconstrucnew construction so that a token of the type iltion andcombinations of parts as will be dislustrated in Fig. will not permitthe full inclosed more fully hereinafter and particularly tended travelof the coin slide which is necespointed out in the claims. sary torelease the vending mechanism, although l0 Referring to the accompanyingdrawings such a special token will permit such travel, re- 65 forming apart of this specification in which like peatedly and fradulently, ofthe coin slide shown numerals designate like parts in all the views,- insaid pliOI filed applieatin Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the coin slideIt is well known that amusement games and assembly; devices, as well asvending machines, have op- Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinalsecerating mechanism which is usually and prefer- 70 tional View of saidassembly; ably actuated only when a coin or trade token Fig. 3 is abottom plan view of said assembly; of predetermined characteristics isemployed to Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view unlock acontrol device such as a coin slide. The taken as on the line 4 4 ofFig. 2 and looking in present invention is directed to such a coin slidethe direction of the arrows; and therefore the actual starting and/orvende 75 Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view ing mechanism iSnot Shown for the Sake Of Cleartaken as on the line 5 5 of Fig, 2 and100king ness in the drawings, but itis to be understood in the directionof the arrows; that when the coin slide is moved to the limit Fig. 6 isa vertical transverse sectional View 0f its intended innermost travel.the inner end taken as on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2 and looking in of saidslide will come in Contact with Some eleso the direction of the arrows;f ment and move the same to cause actuation of Fig. 7 is a sectionalview of said assembly the starting or vending mechanism. On the othertaken in the plane of the upper surface of the hand, if the slide doesnot move to the limit of coin slide to more clearly disclose theformation its intendedv innermost travel then there will be thereof andillustrating said slide at the limit of no actuation of the game,device, or vending 85 its outermost travel with respect to the cabinetmechanism. By predetermined characteristics with which it is associated;is meant a coin or token of correct denomina- Fig. 8 is a fragmentaryView similar to Fig. 7 tion, diameter, thiekneSS, rigidity, and havingno but showing the coin slide at the limit of its DelfOI'etOnS-innermost travel; There is provided a supporting plate l adapted 90 Fig.9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing t0 be Secured to a wall 2 ofthe game or vending the coin slide prevented from reaching the limitCabinet eS by the bOltS 3, and Carried by Seid of its innermost travelwhile containing the speplete iS a guide 4 OI the 00in Slide generallyincially designed token shown in Fig. 10; dicated by the numeral 5. Theguide is of the 4o Fig. 1o is a perspective view of a specially deusualtype in that it is provided with a bottom 95 signed token that isoperable in heretofore pro- Well Speeed from inwardly extending U-DDel'Side posed coin slides to repeatedly permit full intendportions toslidingly receive therebetween the eid travel of said slide in afradulent manner planar coin slide, and in said bottom wall there Fig.11 is a vertical central longitudinal seciS provided a finger hole 10 ofe diameter slightly tional view of the assembly taken as on the lineleSS than the diameter 0f the 00in IeCeiViDg aper- 100 11-11 of Fig, 9and looking in the direction of ture 1l formed in the coin s lide. Whenthe slide the arrows; and is in its outermost position, as shown in Fig.1,

Fig. l2 is a perspective View of the trapdoor the openings 10 and 1lwill be in substantial regnormally covering a portion of the coinreceiviStlatOn S0 that When a 50in 0f proper SiZe iS 5o ing slot formedin the bottom of the coin slide placed in the opening 11 of the Slide,the coin will los guide. be retained in the plane of the slide by virtueThis invention constitutes an improvement of the fact that the coin willrest on a portion over the construction disclosed in my copending 0f theupper Surface 0f the bOttOm Wall of the application for U. S. LettersPatent filed Novemguide contiguous to the linger hole 10. ber 5, 1931under the Serial No. 573,173 entitled The bottom wall of the guide isalso provided 110 with an opening 12 located on the inner side of theface plate 1, the width of this opening being slightly less than thediameter of the proper coin so that if a coin of lesser diameter is usedin a fraudulent attempt to operate the device, the smaller coin willdrop through the opening 12 upon an inward movement of the slide. At theinner end of the guide beyond the opening 12 there is a third elongatedopening 13 in said bottom wall constituting a slot for receiving anddischarging coins which have permitted the full intended inward movementof the slide. The outer end of this opening is normally covered by atrapdoor described hereinafter, while the inner end 14 is circularlyformed and uncovered to constitute the discharge opening through whichcoins may drop into any suitable collecting means not shown butunderstood.

On the upper portion of the guide and in the central longitudinal planeof the slide, there is mounted a dog 15 pivoted at one end as at 1d inbrackets 17 carried by a bridge 18 extending across the upper side ofthe guide, said bridge being suitably apertured to permit said dog tomove therethrough under the urge of the leaf spring 19. When the slidecontaining no coin is moved inwardly the point of the dog will ride onthe upper surface of the slide and then be forced by its spring toextend into and through the coin receiving aperture 11 and jam againstthe edge of the coin opening, preventing further inward movement of theslide. On the other hand, if a proper coin is in the slide, the dog willbe kept elevated by riding over the upper surface of the coin, and thuspermit the slide to travel further inward with respect to the cabinet.

The bottom wall of the guide is provided with a pair of opposed bracketssuch as 20 for supporting a pin 21 upon which are pivoted two dogs 22and 23 disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of theslide, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. These dogs are spaced by a sleeve 24and are urged upwardly against the bottom surface of the slide by virtueof a double wound coil spring 25 the ends of which engage said dogs asshown. Suitable slots are provided in the bottom wall of the guidethrough which the dogs 22 and 23 may pass. By thus providing a pair ofspaced dogs below the slide and a single dog above the slideintermediate said pair, at least one dog may engage openings in coins,tokens, or washers which are not acceptable for use in operating thisslide.

The coin slide 5 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 30into which extends an abutment member 31 secured to the guide as by thescrew 32. As best seen 'in Fig. 2 this abutment member lies in the planeof the slide, but one end of said member is bent U shaped in order toprovide a portion adapted to lit, and be secured to, the guide, and thejuncture of this U-shaped portion with the portion lying within the slotof the coin slide provides a shoulder 33 which serves as a stop forlimiting the outward movement of the slide. In other words, when theslide is moved outwardly the innermost end of the slot 30 thereof comesin contact with the said shoulder and prevents further movement of theslide in that direction. The slot 30 is extended through the coinreceiving aperture 11 as indicated at 34 and the extreme end of the slotportion 34 is adapted to engage the free end of the abutment 31, therebylimiting inward movement of the coin slide. These two limiting positionsof the slide are clearly shown in Figs. 'l and 3.

The guide has a yieldable bottom section constituting a trapdoorcovering the outer end of the coin receiving slot of the guide, saiddoor normally adapted to lie in a plane spaced from the under surface ofthe slide a distance suiicient to accommodate therebetween a coin of theproper thickness. This trapdoor comprises a plate 40 whose free edge iscircular and has outwardly turned points such as 41 at the cornersthereof, which points are adapted to rest upon the outer surface of theguide contiguous the edge of the guide slot 13 as clearly` indicated inFig. 3. The other edge of the plate 40 has se cured thereto spacedbracket members such as 42 each provided With an elongatedv slot 43through which passes the pin 21, the bracket members 42 adapted to liebetween the brackety members 20 of the guide and the pairof dogs 22 and23. The slots 43 are elongated in a direcy tion substantiallyperpendicular to the planeof the plate 40, see Fig. 12. The spring 25aforementioned is reversely wound, the middle portion 44 adapted to urgethe plate 40 in a direction; toward the coin slide.

Should a coin for any reason fail to pass the plate 40 for releasethrough the c'oin discharge opening 14, as in the case where the coinwas thin and/or where from continued slide actuation one or both of thelugs 50 and 51 (presently to be described) were worn, the next insertedcoin carried by the slide will not create a jamming with the previouslyinserted coin because the plate 40 will yield and permit ythe passage ofthe two superposed coins to and through said discharge opening.

The slide is provided with downwardly extending lugs 50 and 51 disposedin the longitudinal center line of the slide on opposite sides of thecoin receiving aperture 1l as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the purpose ofthese lugs being to move a 115 coin which has dropped slightly below theplane of the slide. These lugs are preferably formed by a die stampingprocess which angularly bends a portion of the slide downwardly, andtherefore there is provided a pocket over each lug, indicated at 52 inFig. 2, which has been made use of in the fraudulent operation of thisdevice,` as will be pointed out hereinafter. Provision for these lugs ismade in the guide in the nature of a channel 53 which extendssubstantially theentire length of the guide. To illustrate the functionof these lugs, a coin of the proper size will be retained in the planeof and be moved by the slide inwardly until the coin reaches thereceiving slot 13 of the guide where the coin 130 will tip on the edgeof said slot and move downwardly onto the upper surface of the trapdoor.Further inward movement of the slide causes the entire coin to rest onsaid plate, as indicated in dashed lines at 54 in Fig. 11, and thereforeto 135 lie between the plane of said plate and the bottom surface of theslide, but the outermost lug 5l engages the edge of the coin and slidesit over said door to the discharge opening 14.

If for any reason the slide is not moved far 140 enough inward to causethis discharge of the coin, and the slide is then permitted to moveoutwardly, the coin now resting on the trapdoor will be moved by theother lug 50 until the edge of the coin comes in contact with theoutermost 145 end of the guide slot 13, stopping further outwardmovement of the slide. In other words, the proper coin is trapped unlessthe slide is moved to the full intended innermost limit of its travel tocause the coin discharge, and therefore the lfil only way to release thetrapped coin is by shoving the slide clear in.

To prevent operation of the device with a disk of magnetic material suchas iron or steel, there is provided the usual magnet disposedimmediately above the coin slide, said magnet being of the horseshoetype with its ends disposed between the end of the abutment 31 and theoutermost end oi the guide slot 13. It therefore results that a magneticdisk will pass all three of the dogs if it be of the proper thickness,diameter, and is imperforate, but its advancing edge will be attractedupwardly by magnetic force of the magnet and not permitted to dropdownwardly onto the trapdoor 40.

In other words, the magnetic disk will be retained in the coin opening11 and therefore be kept in the plane of the coin slide, and uponfurther inward movement of said slide the advancing edge of the magneticdisk will strike the end of the abutment 31 and prevent further inwardtravel of the slide. Because the magnetic disk is maintained in theplane of the slide, said disk may be drawn with the slide to theoutermost limit of travel of the latter, thereby permitting recovery ofsaid disk by the operator of the device, and no jamming action will takeplace in the guide slot 13 as just previously mentioned.

As stated in the beginning of this specification, the coin slide of theprior filed application could be manipulated successfully butfraudulently by the use of a special token, but naturally such a tokenwould have to be capable of being retained in the plane of the coinslide. There has appeared on the market such a special token or key,particularly illustrated in Fig. 10, embodying a disk 56 of the correctthickness and diameter but which is provided with diametrically disposedoutwardly extending prongs or points such as 57 and 58 which are adaptedto iit in the inclined pockets 52 created by the formation of the lugs50 and 5l respectively of the coin slide. In Fig. 9 this special butfraudulent disk 56 is shown in position in the slide.

An important feature of this present invention resides in making theabutment member 31 substantially of a length to extend entirely acrossthe coin discharge opening 14 instead of halfway across as disclosed insaid earlier filed application. The special token 56, being providedwith the slotway 59, would permit fraudulent operation of the device ofsaid prior application because the abutment' member would be easilyaccommodated in said slotway at the limit of the inward operative strokeof the slide. In this present invention, however, the abutment 31 is toolong to be accommodated in such a slotway 59 wherefore the inwardmovement of the slide is stopped when the end of the abutment contactsthe end of the slotway of the fraudulent special token 56. As anadditional precaution against fraudulent operation, this present slidemust move inwardly to actuate the vending mechanism a distance such thatthe coin receiving aperture ll of the slide will have passed thecoin'discharge opening 14, wherefore the slot extension 34 is providedto accommodate the end of the abutment member 31, as shown in Fig. 8.These features have been particularly illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 1l,the last mentioned figure showing in dotted lines the position of theslide handle when the slide has moved to the inward limit of itsoperative stroke, and showing in full lines the stopped position of theslide while carrying the fraudulent disk 56. Also in Fig. 11 in dashedlines is shown the position of a proper coin or token resting upon thetrapdoor 40, but still under the control of the lugs 50 and 51 of theslide for movement thereby in either direction.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstruction as well as arrangements of parts without departing from thespirit of the invention, and therefore it is not desired to be limitedto the foregoing except as may be required by the claims.

What is claimed iszl. In a device of the character described thecombination of a slide provided with an aperture to receive a coin; aguide for said slide; a pocket formed in said guide to receive the coinfrom said slide, said pocket having a wall movable to prevent a cloggingof coins therein; and a coin discharge from said pocket.

2. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with an aperture to receive a coin; a guide for said slide; apocket formed in said guide to receive the coin from said slide, saidpocket having a yieldable wall to prevent a clogging of coins therein;and a coin discharge from said pocket.

3. In a device or" the character described the combination of a slideprovided with an aperture to receive a coin; a guide for said slide; apocket formed in said guide to receive the coin from said slide, saidpocket having a pivoted wall to prevent a clogging of coins therein; anda coin discharge from ysaid pocket.

4. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with an aperture to receive a coin; a guide for said slide; apocket formed in said guide to receive the coin from said slide, saidpocket having a spring tensioned pivoted wall to prevent a clogging ofcoins therein; and a coin discharge from said pocket.

5. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with an aperture to receive a coin; a guide for said slide,said guide provided with a slot to receive a coin from said v slide; anda plate covering a portion of said slot and forming therewith a pocket,said plate yieldable to prevent a clogging of coins in said slot, theuncovered portion of said slot constituting a coin discharge from saidpocket.

6. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with an aperture to receive a coin; a guide for said slide,said guide provided with a slot to receive a coin from said slide; and ahinged plate covering a portion of said slot and forming therewith apocket, said plate yieldable to prevent a clogging of coins in saidslot, the free edge of said plate arcuately formed and cooperating withthe uncovered portion of said slot to establish a coin discharge fromsaid pocket.

7. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with an aperture to receive a coin; a guide for said slide,said guide provided with an elongated slot; and a spring tensioned platecovering one end of said slot to form therewith a pocket to receive thecoin from said slide, an edge of said plate forming with the other endof said slot a coin discharge from said pocket.

3. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with an aperture to receive a coin; a guide for said slideandpivoted means on ,said guide to permit a full stroke of predeterminedlength when said slide contains a coin, and to prohibit thepredetermined stroke when no coin is in said slide; a. 'pocket formed in150v said guide to receive the coin from said slide, said pocket havinga wall yieldable about the pivot of said means to prevent a clogging ofcoins in said pocket; and a coin discharge from said pocket.

9. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with a slotway as Well as with an aperture to receive a coin,said aperture intercepting said slotway; a guide for said slide, saidguide provided with an elongated slot; a Wall covering one end of saidslot to form therewith a pocket to receive the coin from said slide, anedge of said Wall forming with the other end of said slot a coindischarge from said pocket; and an abutment member within the slideslotway for limiting the travel of said slide in opposite directions,said member extending across said coin discharge.

10. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with a slotway as well as with an aperture to receive a coin,said aperture intercepting said slotway; a guide for said slide, saidguide provided with an elongated slot; a Wall covering one end of saidslot to form therewith a pocket to receive the coin from said slide, anedge of said wall forming With the other end of said slot a coindischarge from said pocket; and an abutment member within the slideslotway for limiting the travel of said slide in opposite directions,said member passing through said aperture to reach one end of saidslotway to stop slide travel in one of said directions.

1l. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with a slotway as well as with an aperture to receive a coin,said aperture intercepting said slotway; a guide for said slide, saidguide provided with an elongated slot; a wall covering one end of saidslot to form therewith a pocket to receive the coin from said slide, anedge of said wall forming with the other end of said slot a coindischarge from said pocket; and an abutment member carried by said guideand disposed within the slide slotway for limiting the travel of saidslide in opposite directions, said member extending across said coindischarge.

12. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with a slotway as well as with an aperture to receive a coin,said aperture intercepting said slotway; a guide for said slide, saidguide provided with an elongated slot; a hinged wall covering one endvofsaid slot to form therewith a pocket to receive the coin from saidslide, an edge of said wall forming with the other end of said slot acoin discharge from said pocket; and an abutment member within the slideslotway for limiting the travel of said slide in opposite directionssaidgmember extending across said coin discharge.

13. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with a slotway as well as with an aperture to receive a coin,said aperture intercepting said slotway; a guide for said slide; and anabutment member carried by said guide and disposed within the slideslotway, said member passing through said aperture after the release ofthe coin therefrom and contacting relapse one end of said slotway forlimiting the travel of said slide in one direction.

lll. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with a slotway as well as withI an aperture to receive a coin,said aperture intercepting said slotway; a guide for said slide; amagnet positioned over said slotway; and an abutment member within theslide slotway, said member adapted to contact the advancing edge of amagnetic substitute for the required coin maintained by said magnet inthe plane of said slide thereby stopping the travel of said slide priorto the completion of its full operative stroke, and said member adaptedto pass through said aperture after the release of a proper cointherefrom and to contact one end of said slotway for limiting furthertravel of said slide after making its full operative stroke.

15. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided With an aperture for the insertion of a coin; a guide for saidslide provided with a pocket to receive the coin from said slide saidpocket having a wall yieldable to prevent a clogging of coins therein;and a member to limit the travel of said slide, said member disposed inthe plane of said slide.

16. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with an aperture for the insertion of a coin; a guide for saidslide provided with a pocket to receive the coin from said slide saidpocket having a wall yieldable to prevent a clogging of coins therein;and a member to limit the travel of said slide, said member adapted topass through said aperture.

1'7. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with an aperture for the insertion of a coin; a guide for saidslide provided with a hinged wall portion establishing a yieldablepocket to receive the coin from said slide; a coin discharge opening inthe Wall of said guide adjacent said pocket; and a member to limit thetravel of said slide, said member disposed in the plane of said slideand extending across said opening.

18. In a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with a slotway as well as with an aperture to receive a coin,said aperture intercepting said slotway; and a guide for said slide,said guide having a rigid portion thereof comprising an abutment member,said member extending into said slotway and across said aperture whenthe slide is moved to one limit of its movement.

19. In. a device of the character described the combination of a slideprovided with a slotway as well as with an aperture to receive a coin,said aperture intercepting said slotway; and a guide for said slide,said guide having a stationary and rigid portion -thereof comprising anabutment member, said member extending into said slotway and havingrelative movement across said aperture after the discharge of the cointherefrom and when the slide is moved to one limit of its movement.

WALTER A. TRATSCH.

